Retaining ring

ABSTRACT

A simple retaining ring suited for selectively holding objects having an aperture, such as keys. A beveled gap is provided totally through the ring at one point on the periphery. The key is urged into the gap and spreads the ring apart by cam action. The ring is formed of spring material so that one edge of the gap is normally closed. A coating may be applied to the slot of the gap to allow easy opening of the ring upon engagement with a key.

ll-Uimiie tates atent 11 1 Zentmyer 1 ,1] uly E7, 1973 RETAINING RING 1,626,915 5 1927 Buffington 140/88 V V 2,070,149 3 1937 G 292 337 [76] Inventor: Mm Zemmyer, 2611 Ollve 3,362,200 l/l968 70/456 R Avenue, Apt. 16, Burbank, Calif. 91505 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Filed; May 2 1971 Attorney-Harry R. Lubcke [21] Appl. No.: 147,902 ABSTRACT -5 2. A simple retaining ring suited for selectively holding [3%] 8i objects having an aperture such as keys A beveled gap 1 lfw 7 is provided totally through the ring at one oint on the 0 59/85 2 periphery. The key is urged into the gap and spreads the ring apart by cam action. The ring is formed of spring material so that one edge of the gap is normally [56] References cued closed. A coating may be applied to the slot of the gap UNITED STATES PATENTS to allow easy opening of the ring upon engagement with 3,548,621 12/1970 Rosetti 70/370 3 key.

975,323 ll/l9l0 Brown 59/85 2,824,421 2/1958 Nelson 59 135 2 Clams, 6 Drawing Figures 3,061,999 11/1962 O'Brien 59/90 1 RETAINING RING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a ring having a gap, whereby objects may be retained by or removed from the ring. v

The conventional key ring is well known, consisting usually of a ring having a circumferential slot of appreciable length, perhaps as long as nearly completely around the ring. slightly Typically, the slot is arranged so that it closes completely after the key has been placed upon or removed from the ring. Various lap joints have been employed, at times with serrations, with a projection, or including a link to insure closure in normal use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Rather than having a lap joint according to the prior art, the ring of this invention has a butt joint. This is beveled so that a significant opening remains at one side of the joint, while the other side of the joint merely touches together. This arrangement is sufficient to retain keys or similar objects, but is at all times ready to receive or discharge such objects. The ring is spread by cam action with the object.

The construction is simple, rugged and inexpensive.

A spring material is employed for the ring. The gap, and the whole ring if desired, may be provided with a coating, such as an epoxy. This allows objects to easily slide through the gap when these are being placed upon or removed from the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a ring according to this invention with the gap to one side.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the same.

FIG. 3 shows the ring with a coating.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment in which the gap is on the inside of the periphery.

FIG. 5 shows another alternate embodiment in which the cross-section of the ring is square.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of a further embodiment having a different gap configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1, numeral 1 identifies the retaining ring. This is shown as a circular ring, but it will be understood that the ring may be oval shaped or other substantially circular shapes as well. This ring is of circular cross-section, which, again, may be oval if desired.

The ring is typically formed of music wire, spring steel, stainless steel, beryllium-copper, aluminum alloy, or other similar flexible material, having such spring characteristics as to return to an original no-gap configuration after any force tending to open the ring has been removed.

Gap 2 in the ring is of particular importance. It is typically formed with sides having an angle of 50 one with the other, and such that the closest ends touch when the ring is in an unrestrained condition. The gap may be greater in the metal to allow for a coating on the surfaces of the gap.

The manner in which an object having an aperture may be forced into linkage with the ring is shown in FIG. 2, an end or edge view of the ring. Object 3, shown dotted and having an aperture l, is urged into gap 2 in the direction of the arrow. This action separates the walls of the gap so that the object can pass between the same. Normally, one ceases exerting pressure upon the assembly as soon as the ring comes together within an erture 4 of the object. This secures the object upon the ring, since the gap is closed, or very nearly closed, on one side thereof. Plural objects may be successively placed upon and retained thereby, as will be understood from the usual use of a key ring.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate'ernbodiment in which the cross-section of the ring 10 is square and also the manner in which an object is removed from the ring. This embodiment can be stamped from a sheet of material rather than being formed from wire. Suitable heat treating to provide spring characteristics may be subsequently applied.

The gap is the same as in FIG. 2. The object is swung to the right with respect to its position shown in FIG. 2. A force in the direction of the arrow is again exerted, which forces the gap open. Upon sufficient movement of the object 3 to the right it passes beyond the gap and is removed from the ring.

The cross-section of the ring of HG. 5 may also be rectangular, as will be understood.

The alternate embodiment of FIG. 4 has gap opening 20 toward the inside of ring R. The apertured object is then merely inserted radially with respect to the ring, rather than to one side, as in FIGS. 2 and 5.

The further alternate embodiment of FIG. 6 has the opening 30 of the gap on the outer periphery of ring 1". Also, that portion M of the gap has parallel sides. This aids in placing keys upon or removing keys from the ring without scratching the keys. This gap configuration may be applied to any of the other embodiments shown. Also, the edges of all gaps may be slighly rounded, as shown.

The embodiment of any of the figures may be given a coating 6, as shown for the embodiment according to FIG. 1, in FIG. 3. This may be an epoxy paint, applied with the aid of electrostatic force at a thickness of the order of 0.002 inch, it may be nylon, or, in the case of aluminum for the ring, it may be hard anodiae. The coating may be applied only to the sides of the gap, since a significant function of the coating is to provide soft material between the steel of a ring and the object that is inserted, thereby to prevent scratching the normally softer object.

When the coating is applied over all of the ring various colors may be employed for decorative effect, and also to prevent rust when the metal of the ring is subject to rusting. Gap 2 is thus formed with a minimum separation of not less than 0.004 inch to accommodate the coating. It is preferred that the close side of the gap be closed, but the ring will function with a small permanent gap, as long as this small with respect to the thickness of the keys or other objects with which it is used.

Coating may not be required from the anti-scratch standpoint for soft ring materials, such as berylliumcopper or heat-treated aluminum alloy.

The invention may be embodied in rings of almost any size. A representative embodiment is formed of round wire having a diameter of 0.105 inch, with an external diameter of 1.38 inch.

It is evident that the ring of this invention is rugged, particularly as compared to rings of the prior art that include thin lap joints or hinged retaining links.

a. only one normally closed butting beveled gap (2),

and

b. a coating of a material soft with respect to said resilient material deposited upon said ring including said gap,

to allow easy passage of a key through said gap.

2. The ring of claim 1, in which;

a. said beveled gap (2) opens at right angles to the plane of the whole said ring.

* i i t 

1. A key ring of essentially circular shape formed Of resilient material devoid of permanent set having; a. only one normally closed butting beveled gap (2), and b. a coating of a material soft with respect to said resilient material deposited upon said ring including said gap, to allow easy passage of a key through said gap.
 2. The ring of claim 1, in which; a. said beveled gap (2) opens at right angles to the plane of the whole said ring. 